Light signal



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,232 2 C. S. SNAVELY LIGHT SIGNAL Filed Aug. 11 19.223 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENQRZ 'f w Z'W Jan. 24, 1928.

C. S. SNAVELY LIGHT SIGNAL Filed Aug. 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 reamed Jan. 24,1928.

outrun STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GLAlt-ENGIE S. SNAVEIJY; OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITUI-l' & SIGNAL.- COMPANY, OF SXVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHT SIGNAL.

Application filed August 11, 1923. Serial No. 656,844.

My invention relates to light signals.

it will describe two forms of light signals embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel 1 features thereof 1n claims. a

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 1s a vertical sectional view showing one form of light signal embodying my invent on. 2 is view showing in frontelevation, the signal shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line Illlll of Fig. 1. l is a sectional view along the line IV IV of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a tragmental view showing a modification of the light deflector shown in 1 and also embodying my invention. 5 is a sectional view on the line i l- H of Fig. 1. Fig. 'Tis a view showing in elevation, on a greatly reduced scale, the signal of Fig. 2 with the front plate F and the casting F removed. Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the severalviews.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the signal comprises a casing A ofcast iron or other suitable material having a front plate E which is provided with three pairs of holes T through which the signal indications are displayed. The two holes T of each pair are on oppositesides of the center of the signal. Supported by the front plate E and in substantially the same plane therewith is a plate B of sheet metal or other suitable material which is preferably painted black, and one function of which is to provide a uniform background for the signal indications and thus increase the range of visibility oi the signal. Two of the holes T are disposed vertically, one above the other and are each provided with a cover glass 1 Two other holes T are disposed horizontally and provided with cover glass i The two ren'iaining holes T are so arranged that a line connecting their centers makes an angle of 45 with the vertical and thehorizontal and are provided withcoverglasses 1*". A casting F is pivotally mounted inlihe cen terof the casing .13., and contains a source of light such as an incandescent lamp Gr. Siupported by the casting F and located on either side of the lamp G are two oppositely disp w l lens structures as here shown each comp ng two lenses l and 5. As indicated in Fi 1. these lenses are so desi nod and so disposed that light emanating from the lamp G is projected in two oppositely disposed beams of parallel rays along the arrows X. Associated with each of the holes T in the front plate E is a light defiec tor designated by the reference character 9 with asuitable exponent and arranged to redirect light incident thereupon from the lamp Gr, through the associated cover glass 1 (see Fig. 7). As here shown, each deflector is a silvered mirror, which mirror is supported adjustably from the casing A by a threaded stem 10 and lock nuts 10 As shown in Fig. 1, the casting F is in such position that the projected beams of light are directed vertically upward and downward in the directions indicated by the arrows X, Interposed ineach of these beams is one of the light deflectors 9 The angular disposition of these deflectors is such that the beams of light incident upon them along arrows X are redirected through the two cover glassesl in spacedpaths,

substantially parallel, as indicated by the arrows S. i t

The signal is mounted in such a position that the arrows S point toward the point or points from which the signal indications are to be observed.

An alternative forin of light deflector is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the deflector com;

prises a back plate 11 provided with a plurality of transversely extending prisms 12 by means of which the light is refracted 7 through the cover glass 1.

It is understood that other light deflectors similar in all respects. to thoseprovided for cover glasses. 1 are associated with there maining cover glasses 1 and 1"; Means are also provided. as will appear hereinafter, for rotating the casting F, thereby directing the beams of light from the lamp through any desiredpair of cover glasses. As a result, the appearance of the signal as viewed from the front is two spaced horizontal beams of light, the line joining these beams being disposed vertically, horizontally, or inclined 45, depending upon the position of the casting F, as will be plain from Figs. 1 and 2.

l also provide means for distinctively coloring the beams of light ssuing from each pair of cover glasses This int-Z? be accomplished by making the light deflectors 9 of distinctive colors. For eirample, the deflectors associated with cover glasses l and shown in Fig. 1 may be of green glass, the deflectors associated with cover glasses 1 may. bewof yellow glass, whereas those assori'iated-with cover glass 1 may be of red glass. These colors are in accordance *ith standard railway signaling practice and correspond to signal indications of proceed, caution and stop, respectively. It will ee-clear that these indications comprise both colorand position signaling, whichfeature is an advantage becauserit permits the i11 dication to be correctly read by persons partially or completely color blind.

As shown in the drawing thecasting F is in such position that light is projected fromlamp G through cover glasses 1 thus displaying a proceed indication. In order to project light from lamp Gr through cover glasses 1 this casting F must be rotated through 45 angular degrees in clockwise direction the signal is viewed in Fig. 2. Similarly, to" project light through cover glasses 1 this casting must berotated 90 in clockwise direction as the signal is viewed in Fig. l. i

The casting may be moved to the operative position-with respect to any desired pair or cover glassesby means of a shaft H which is rigidlyattached to this castin This shaft is journalledin a suitable bearing in a plate 10 which. forms theback wall of the casin Aand the front wall of a mechanismsupported at point 42, whilesegmental gear 14f associated with magnet 20" ispivotally supported at point 41. Pivoted also at point 41 is a member 16 having an armature adapted to be operated by magnetQO and a'lip +14 for engaging the lower side of the arm which carries segmental; gear 141". Downward motion of this member is limited by .a screw stop 19 The arm carrying segmental gear 141 is provided on its lower edge withan armature 15 arranged to bea-ttracted by magnet 20. A biasing memberl is also pivotally supported atpoint 42 and is provided with a weight 18 and a lip 46 for engaging the lower side of the armcarrying segmental gear 14. The force of gravityon this weight normally tends to force the weight 18downwa'rds untilit abuts against stop screw 19, thus causing lip 46 to engage segmental gear 14 and bias the moving parts of the entire system to the positions shown in this drawing, in which the parts are in the positions corresponding to a stop indication.

The energization of the magnets 20 and 20' is controlled by a relay designated as a whole by the reference character R and comprising two windings 21 and 22 and a rotor element .23. This rotor element 213 controls a movable contact finger Edit in the usual and well known manner. The enorgization of windings21and 22 may be accomplished in any convenient manner. as is well understood bythose skilled in the art. lilagnet 2O is provided with a circuitwhich pas. from a source of energy, as a battery K, through wire 27. left hand contact filth-26 ot-relay It, wire 28, winding of magnet 20". and wires 29 and 30 back to battery K. Magnet 20 is provided witha circuit which passes from battery K, through wire 537, right hand contact of relay 13., wire 81, winding of magnetfldand wires and 30 back to battery K.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As hereinbcfore stated, the parts of the mechanism as shown in Fig. are in the positions corresponding to a stop indication. If the relay R is energized in such direction as to close contact 21-Ql" magnet 20 becomes energized, thus causing armature 15 to move upwards. This motion causes lip 14: to engage segmental gear o which gear thereupon moves in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 42.1. It is clear that this motion is transmitted through pinion 13 to shait H and segment gear lfl; causing gear 14. to rotate in a clockwise directionagaiust the biasexerted by weight 18 man; armature 1.5 abuts against the pole face of magnet 20") During this operation armature "1.5 completes one ha] i oi its total motiontoward the pole 'i'ace of magnet ill); l n the position which the parts wili then occupy the shaft-5E1 has been rotated 4-?) (lf'gliffl-i and the signal will display a caution indication. i

If relayR is now energized in such direction as to close contact 24-425, magnet 20 is energized, thus drawing armature 51. downwards until it engages the pole face of magnet 20 in which position the casting I is in such position that the signal displays a pro eeed indication. Since iurther upward motion of member 16 is prevented by engagement of arniatmfe 15 with the pole face of magnet 20, segment gear l t. during i'notion of shaft H from the caution to the proceed position, simply rotates about its pivot ll, moving out oi? engagement with lip ll: witl'n out affecting the position of members 1(3.

Although in the present application I have shown a mechanism involving magnets and segmental gears foroperating the casting F,

l an

I. lit

shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

I do not desire to limit myself to a mechanism of this character, it being understood that the casting may be operated by a mechanism of any other suitable type such for example as the Z armature type or the motor type. y

In order to prevent phantom indications, that is, false indications due to reflected sunlight, I equip casting F with shields 8awhich prevents light, entering the casing from the exterior through one of the cover glasses, from being reflected within the signal and issuing from the opposite cover glass and. thus displaying an improper indication. These shields are best For example, it' the signal is displayinga stop indication, and sunlight or any other foreign light enters the signal at upper coverglass 1, this light is deflected toward the center of the signal, but it is obstructed by the shields and hence is not allowed to be projected from the lower cover glass 1 by deflector 9-. There is therefore no possibility of phantom indication.

Under some conditions of operation, it is desirable to permit an observer stationed at a point in rear of the signal, as on a. train which has passed the signal moving in the direction in which the signal governs, to

ascertain Whether or not the signal is dis-.

playing a stop indication. To accomplish this result I provided a hole in the back wall I) of the mechanism box C. As best shown in Fig. 1, this hole is provided witha cover glass which is protected from snow and direct rays of the sun by means of a hood 36. An auxiliary light source is provided within the mechanism box, which source as here illustrated is a small incandescent lamp 6 Interposed between the lamp 6 and the cover glass 35 is a small semaphore spectacle 7 as best shown in Fig. l. This spectacle is provided with-a transparent roundel 8 and is rigidly attached to shaft H and rotates therewith. The parts are so disposed that this transparent roundel is interposed between the lamp 6 and the cover glass 35 only when the signal is displaying a stop indication. The main signal lamp G is constantly energized from a suitable source not shown in the drawing, and the auxiliary lamp 6 is connected in series therewith. Positive indication is therefore given to the rear when a stop indication is displayed by the signal.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of light signal and one modification thereof embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made two pairs of apertures in said casing so disposed that the line through the centers of the apertures of one pair intersects the line through the centers of the apertures of the other pair, a light source, a light deflecting device for each aperture for redirecting therethrough light incident upon such. de-

vice lrom said source, the beams projected by said devices being all in parallel. relation, and means for selectively projecting light from said source onto the devices associated with either said pair of apertures.

2. A signal comprising a suitable casing, two pairs of apertures in said casing so disposed that the line through the centers of the apertures of one pair intersects the line through the centers of the apertures of the other pair, a light source, a light deflecting device for each aperture for redirecting therethrough into paths substantially parallel light incident upon such device from said source, and means for selectively pro-v jecting light from said source onto the de- VllGS associated with either said pair of ipertures.

In combination, a light source, means -tor projecting two oppositely directed beams of light from said source, a pair of similarly colored light deflectors for redirecting said beams into parallel paths, a second pair of deflectors of a color difi erent from said first pair all of said deflectors being confined between two parallel planes, and means for retating said first means into operative position with respect to said second pair of deflectors.

@l. A signal comprising a front plate having afirst pair of apertures disposed on a vertical line,"a second pair of apertures disposed on a horizontal line, and a third pair of apertures disposed on a line inclined at 45 angular degrees with. the vertical, a light source, a colored deflecting means associated with each pair of apertures for redirecting light incident thereupon from said source through the associated apertures and simultaneously giving said light a distinctive color, collimating means associated with said source, and means for selectively moving said collimating means into a position in which light is projected from said source to the deflecting means associated with any pair of apertures.

In testimony Whereol I atli); my signature.

CLARENCE S. SNAVELY.

EERTIFICATE OF CQRRECTIQN.

Patent No. 1,657,232, Granted January 24, 1928, to

GLARENGE S SNAVJELY,

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as foliows: Page 3, line 99, claim 3, after the word "pair" insert the words "and disposed in a line which intersects the tine through the deflectors of said first pair"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this eorreetien therein that the same may eonform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of February, A. i). 1928.

M, J Moore,

Seai, Acting Gommissioner of Patents. 

